The Tennessee Titans are banking on a proven formula as they welcome their 2025 No. 1 overall pick, Miami quarterback Cam Ward, into the fold. Head coach Brian Callahan is pulling from his past success with Joe Burrow, aiming to mold Ward into the franchise quarterback Tennessee has been searching for. ESPN’s Turron Davenport dropped a piece this morning, May 13, 2025, breaking down how Callahan is leaning on his experience as the Cincinnati Bengals’ offensive coordinator in 2020, when he helped guide Burrow from the top draft pick to a bonafide NFL star.
Callahan’s approach with Ward is a page straight out of the Burrow playbook. Back in 2020, the NFL was navigating COVID-19 protocols, forcing most meetings to go virtual. Callahan recently went back and rewatched those sessions to reflect on what worked in Burrow’s development. “I wanted to gain perspective on his process and how our scheme implementation and game planning contributed to his success,” Callahan told Davenport. It’s a smart move—Burrow became a cornerstone for the Bengals, leading them to a Super Bowl in 2021 and cementing himself as one of the league’s elite quarterbacks, despite a rookie season cut short by a torn ACL and MCL after 10 starts.
For Ward, the process is all about building comfort and confidence. Callahan has been having the rookie break down what he sees on various offensive concepts, focusing on why certain plays worked at Miami. “If it was a new concept, Callahan incorporated that into the offense,” Davenport noted. It’s a gradual build—start with what Ward knows, then layer on more complexity as he gets comfortable. With mandatory minicamp on the horizon, the Titans aren’t rushing to name a Week 1 starter, but they’re clearly setting Ward up to take the reins sooner rather than later.
That said, the Titans aren’t handing Ward the job just yet. General manager Mike Borgonzi has been clear that there’ll be competition between Ward and 2023 second-round pick Will Levis heading into the preseason. It’s a fair approach—Levis has shown flashes, like his 4-touchdown debut against the Falcons in 2023, but consistency has been an issue, with his completion percentage hovering around 58% last season. Still, history tells us teams don’t wait long to start their No. 1 overall quarterbacks. Burrow was atop the Bengals’ depth chart from Day 1 in 2020, and recent top picks like Caleb Williams with the Bears in 2024 have followed suit, starting immediately despite early growing pains.
The hope in Tennessee is that Ward makes the decision a no-brainer, just like Burrow did in Cincinnati. Back then, Burrow’s command of the offense and quick grasp of concepts had him starting by the season opener, and Callahan is looking for the same from Ward. By blending Ward’s college strengths into the Titans’ system—like his knack for extending plays and delivering deep balls, which earned him a 67.1% completion rate and 4,123 yards at Miami in 2024—they’re setting him up to shine. If Ward can take charge of the quarterback room the way Burrow did, Titans fans might have their next franchise quarterback ready to roll by the time the regular season kicks off. For now, it’s all about building that foundation, and Callahan’s proven he knows how to get a young QB ready for the big stage.
